Novotel Reading Centre

Unwelcoming, unsafe and unclean

Liked: Nothing to recommend.
Disliked: Certainly one of the worst hotel stays of my life, particularly at nearly £300 for one night without parking or breakfast. One of the reasons I chose this Novotel was that it stated parking was available, however this isn't true. Parking in theory costs £20 per night but the postcode given for the car park is incorrect and encourages you to drive down a bus and taxi only road. There are no directions and a tiny overhead satellite map that is impossible to interpret. After 30 minutes of driving round and round central Reading trying not to get a traffic ticket we gave up and parked 15 mins walk away. The doors of the hotel are locked by 6pm (whether you have a key or not), and you have to hammer on the windows to attract staff attention in the hope of being admitted. The staff response is disinterest and shrugged shoulders; apparently this is what guests should expect. In the room the central ceiling smoke detector had been covered by a plastic bag; this is certainly hazardous and possibly illegal, and the carpet had an incredible mix of unpleasant stains. I was so surprised by the latter two points that I took some pictures.In summary, there is nothing to recommend this hotel; woefully overpriced, wholly inaccurate in its description, unwelcoming, unsafe and unclean.

Exceptional

Good overnight stop in Reading

Liked: Conviently located and priced with a great view over Reading
Disliked: The pool was too crowded and the parking was complicated (we were traveling by bicycle)

Superb

Very close to station and...

Liked: Comfy bed Sofa , bathtub Table Fridge Very comfortable for tbe price

Passable

Exceptional

Liked: Staff were very helpful, especially with parking.

Not a pleasant stay and...

Liked: Breakfast was ok
Disliked: Cleanliness and poor facilities. Returned home after a day out to find bedsheets dirty. Ran reception and told housekeeping had gone home. They bought clean bedding and at 11.30pm myself and husband having to change sheets ourselves. Card key kept losing magnetic ID so had to on numerous occasions having to keep going to reception to have reactivated.

Exceptional